Keeping the Flame — we dive into Scarborough Wines

We chat with Sally Scarborough of Scarborough Wine Co about inspiration, legacy and what it means to ‘keep the flame’ in the Hunter Valley, one of Australia’s most loved wine regions.

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There’s something quietly powerful about legacy in wine — how each vintage, each decision, carries a story from one generation to the next. At Scarborough Wines in the Hunter Valley, that story feels especially alive.

We’re lucky enough to have known and worked with the Scarborough family since 2015.

Established by Ian ‘Scarbie’ Scarborough and his wife Merralea in 1987, Scarborough Wines is now more or less in the hands of the next generation: Sally, her brother Jerome and Jez’s wife Liz Riley.

This triumvirate runs the three pillars of the winery: marketing, winemaking and viticulture respectively.

Since the release of their new premium range Keepers of the Flame, Sally talks to us about the family business and how this new Scarborough wine that both honours tradition and looks to the future at the same time.

Check out the full Keepers of the Flame range, which consists of a Chardonnay, a Shiraz, a Shiraz-Tempranillo and a Shiraz-Viognier.

Jump to our tasting notes of the Keepers of the Flame range at the bottom of this page – click here.

10 Questions With Sally Scarborough of Scarborough Wine Co

1. For readers who might not have visited yet, how would you describe what makes Scarborough Wine Co, and the Hunter Valley more broadly, so special?

From the moment that Scarborough Wine Co started in 1987, my mum and dad (Ian and Merralea Scarborough) had a vision to create somewhere special to enjoy our wines.

Our cellar door was literally an extension of our home (as the original cellar door was firstly our carport, then our first winery) and Merralea prided herself on overdelivering with hospitality when guests sat down to enjoy their tasting, with a small cheese plate on hand. Merralea and Ian always wanted guests to walk away having had an experience like no other in the Hunter and having made some great memories and already thinking about when they can come back!

The Hunter Valley is a great place to visit. It’s hard to beat it for a long weekend of good food and wine. Its natural rural beauty makes it a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of life, yet it has all the conveniences you need. Easy to get around, fabulous accommodation, world class food and an easy drive from Sydney or Newcastle, particularly with the new freeways making the trip really accessible.

For many who have visited us, their trip is often marked by discovering the Yellow Label Chardonnay. Chardonnay has always been the favourite variety for both Mum and Dad, and the distinctive and trustworthy label is what many will recall about their trip to the Hunter Valley. We’ve since expanded the range to try new styles and varieties, but Chardonnay will always be the heart of Scarborough Wine Co.

2. Let’s dive into your Keepers of the Flame series – the name itself is beautiful and quite evocative. Where did that idea come from?

Jerome (my brother), Liz (our brilliant viticulturist and also Jerome’s wife) and I had several conversations over many years about the naming of this range. The concept came from the responsibility we have, as the next Scarborough generation, to carry on our parents’ legacy, but also as stewards of the land.

Mum and Dad started this business from the ground up – it took blood, sweat, and we joke, a lot of Chardonnay, to establish our home and winery in the Hunter Valley, and ‘Keepers of the Flame’ was a great name to reflect that moving to the next generation but maintaining the things that are important.

3. How does this collection differ from your previous releases?

It’s the most premium range of wines we have made and uses distinctive parcels of fruit from our vineyards that we’ve highlighted during the growing season as being something special. Some years it might just be a few rows that look exceptional. Each wine is the ultimate expression of that particular vineyard, in that specific year and the very best fruit of the season.

We started with Chardonnay and this year released several Shiraz wines for the first time from the exceptional 2023 vintage.

What finishes up in the Keepers of the Flame bottle each year depends on what we discover in the vineyard, we’re in the hands of Mother Nature. When it comes to the winemaking of these wines it is a very hands-off process. All the hard work has been done in the vineyard already.

4. Were there any creative risks or experiments in this series? Maybe something you hadn’t tried before in the Scarborough range?

Jerome has had some fun experimenting with the Shiraz range, but it does all start in the vineyard where small parcels are identified. He co-fermented Shiraz with Viognier, and Shiraz with Tempranillo to create some different styles, which are receiving some fantastic reviews from the wine media and customers alike.

The Shiraz-Viognier is a nod to the styles of wine you find in the Rhône Valley, something that we really enjoy. Hunter Valley Shiraz is a style all of its own, medium bodied and savoury, it’s very different from Shiraz around the country. We wanted to build on this distinctiveness with this range.

5. You’ve got such deep roots in Hunter tradition. How do you balance that history with innovation when crafting something new like this?

The Hunter Valley is so steeped in tradition, there are wine businesses that are 5th, 6th generation, so in Hunter Valley terms we are new to it all.

However, the tradition of winemaking here, and listening to the climate and soils. is timeless and understanding how the climates and micro-climates of the Hunter Valley work and that the wines need to be true to the Hunter Valley style, but equally be wines that we know our customers will enjoy.

The customer is always central to our decision making – we ask ourselves, what would they like to drink, how would they drink it, with what food and at what occasions. By answering these questions, we can ensure that we’re not losing sight of who enjoys our wines and whether something new will appeal to them. We always respect our heritage, but we’re also keen to take our customers on a journey if we think they will embrace it.

In some cases, we’re looking to reach a new customer or look at providing options for different ways to enjoy wine.

For example, our wine in a can launched last year. We anticipated they would be enjoyed by a slightly younger customer, looking for a convenient way to drink wine that fits into their lifestyle. They absolutely did, but equally a number of our existing customers loved the cans too as it was a convenient serving size that they could enjoy without the wastage.

We won’t ever compromise on quality and flavour, but it’s important to continue to evolve and try new things so our brand remains relevant. Trial and tasting – getting liquid on lips – is so important with new launches.

6. Working with family in a creative business can be both beautiful and complex. What’s it like collaborating with your family when it comes to big creative or winemaking decisions?

We have been working together in the business since about 1985, but in an official capacity for about the last 23 or 24 years, so we’ve been doing it for a while now.

When it comes to business decisions, it’s about walking a fine line between the nostalgic idea of what our family business was 20 years ago and then balancing that with current commercial decisions.

It can sometimes be difficult to separate, but those decisions can’t be made with your heart on your sleeve. We all want our family business to succeed and thrive so compromise is always needed.

Jerome and I are co-CEOs, but we try and stay in our own lanes when it comes to decision making; Jerome in winemaking and viticulture, while I focus on sales and marketing. But the big decisions are always collaborative.

7. How does it feel, personally, to see the next chapter of Scarborough Wine Co unfolding?

I’m really proud of all we have achieved together. The first ‘Keepers of the Flame’ vintage was 2019 – the year we all want to forget.

It was particularly difficult, not only a global pandemic but also drought and bushfires. The fact that ‘Keepers of the Flame’ came out of that tough time is evidence of our resilience and grit.

8. When you think about legacy – in winemaking, business and family — what does that word mean to you?

Our priority is to leave the land in a better place than we found it.

We have invested a lot of time and money into land management and viticulture. We are members of Sustainable Winegrowing Australia, and our wines and vineyards are certified as meeting their high standards.

Biodiversity in our vineyards, recycling and composting in our winery and cellar door, solar energy to power our business, so many things that we’re proud of and will continue to improve on.

9. What do you hope wine lovers will feel when they open a bottle from Keepers of the Flame?

We really hope they can feel and taste the care and attention taken to make this wine. We hope it transports them to a time in the Hunter Valley, with the sun on their faces and memories being made.

10. And finally, what’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received — in wine or in life — that still guides you today?

Stay true to your values and what you believe in. Don’t be afraid to follow your own path.

Our thanks to Sally Scarborough for sharing her thoughts and experiences.

As Sally talks about Keepers of the Flame, you can feel how much heart is woven into every bottle — a blend of history, intuition and quiet strength. It’s more than just a new wine release; it’s a story of family, of place and of the delicate art of carrying something forward without losing its soul.

You can explore the Keepers of the Flame collection and the rest of the Scarborough Wines range at their Hunter Valley cellar doors or online at scarboroughwine.com.au.

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